What is Crude Oil?

Oil was formed from the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of
years ago in a marine (water) environment before the dinosaurs. Over the
years, the remains were covered by layers of mud. Heat and pressure from
these layers helped the remains turn into what we today call crude oil. The
word "petroleum" means "rock oil" or "oil from the earth."
Crude oil is a smelly, yellow-to-black liquid and is usually found in
underground areas called reservoirs. Scientists and engineers explore a
chosen area by studying rock samples from the earth. Measurements are
taken, and, if the site seems promising, drilling begins. Above the hole, a
structure called a 'derrick' is built to house the tools and pipes going into the
well. When finished, the drilled well will bring a steady flow of oil to the
surface.
The world's top five crude oil-producing countries are:
Saudi Arabia
Russia
United States
Iran
China

The Refinery of Crude Oil

Petroleum refineries convert crude oil and other liquids into many petroleum
products that people use every day. Most refineries focus on producing
transportation fuels. On average, U.S. refineries produce about 19 gallons of
motor gasoline, 12 gallons of ultra-low sulfur distillate fuel, most of which is
sold as diesel fuel, and 4 gallons of jet fuel from a 42 gallon barrel of crude
oil. More than a dozen other petroleum products are also produced in
refineries. Petroleum refineries also produce liquids that are used by the
petrochemical industry to make a variety of chemicals and plastics.

Petroleum refineries change crude oil into petroleum products that are used
as fuels for transportation, heating, paving roads, and generating electricity.
Petroleum products are also used as feedstocks for making chemicals.
Refining breaks crude oil down into its various components, which are then
selectively reconfigured into new products. Petroleum refineries are complex
and expensive industrial facilities.
This refining process, is done using a fractional distillation apparatus. It can
be seen below:
All of the products obtained from refinery, are beneficial to humans and our
everyday life. Below shows a summarized table of refinery products and their
various uses.

Distillation
Chamber